In My Mother’s Skin, 2023
This folk horror movie is directed and written by Kenneth Dagatan. The movie is being set in the time of World War II (WWII). The movie plot followed the young girl that while tending to the dying mother, became acquainted with the flesh-eating fairy.
This movie was premiered at the Sundance for being a part of festival’s “Midnight” sectors on 21st of January, 2023. This is the just the only non-English-word movie of this section. The Amazon Studios acquired a global right to the movie, marking its initial acquisition of the movie festival, and had been made accessible to stream globally on 12th of October, 2023, on Prime Video.
The Cast Lists
Beauty Gonzalez performed as Ligaya
Felicity Kyle Napuli performed as Tala
James Mavie Estrella performed as Bayani
Jasmine Curtis-Smith performed as Fairy
Angeli Bayani performed as Amor
Story Outline
In 1945, when the World War II in the Philippines is nearly coming to its end, the wealthy family is being trapped in their state mansion and was terrorized by the Japanese soldiers who had been losing control of that island. Aldo, the family’s patriarch, was rumored to have taken the Japanese gold and then just hide it nearby. Being aware that his whole family can be killed when the gold will be located, Aldo leaves to look for some assistance from the Americans. The absence of Aldo caused his family to feel afraid that he will not anymore comeback, while the health of their mother deteriorates. Desperate to get for some help, Tala, the family’s younger daughter turns to the deceiving and a flesh-eating fairy that plans to eat greedily all of them.
Writer’s Observation
Firstly, the creative takes of horror here is very appreciative and thinking that is from the perspective of the Southern Asia and as an Asian horror films from South Korea and Japan, these are all pretty common.
There are very few foreigners that are seeing horror flicks that are from the Philippines made, and for this part, this one is pretty good. The movie is no doubt had the talent, since there are several gorgeous camerawork, productions and costumes throughout with various interesting concepts and atmosphere explored. Its camerawork is adorable that it helps build tension in between the setting and the environment. The narrative is also mixed with fairies, war, and some other horror elements that make it interesting, while some improvements about its writing can be done better, give topics explored and some interesting concepts. The soundtrack and the sound design is good and most of the stars performances were solid. The child actors also did a solid job with their roles and the direction is goo as well. The gore effects are pretty realistic and good and there were really some interesting ideas that are mean-feisty, also the director taking few risks on its setting and tone is really appreciative.
However, the characters problem felt thin to really connect at times, with the pacing as there had been some moments that had been slightly drag out. Slow-burn horror films is not mindful at all, however, there were certain times that felt slow, with some lightening issues since there are some scenes that are a bit dark to see.
